SustainabilityEnvironmentClimate change measures
TOCALO is adopting renewable energy sources and implementing other climate change initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions.
Global warming mitigation
We are implementing comprehensive measures to reduce electricity consumption, installing energy-saving equipment, and planning to convert to renewable energy sources.
The Group’s CO2 emissions are primarily the result of the energy sources we use, which include primary energy derived from fossil fuels, such as kerosene, diesel oil, LPG, and city gas, and the secondary energy source of electricity. Converted to CO2, electricity accounts for the vast majority—88.72%—of our CO2 emissions.
TOCALO takes meticulous steps to conserve electricity as a regular part of efficient business
operations while also implementing measures including installing energy-saving equipment and
upgrading aging equipment with environmentally efficient equipment.
We are also taking steps to convert to renewable energy sources that do not emit
CO2 in power generation. These steps include aggressive measures to reduce
CO2 emissions by using solar power to generate our own energy and by purchasing
electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
In fiscal 2022, we reduced our CO2 emissions by approximately 60% and the ratio of CO2 emissions to sales decreased by approximately 65% compared to the previous fiscal year. The reduction is the result of our efforts to increase purchases of electricity derived from renewable energy sources. The decline in the ratio of emissions to sales reflects the improved production efficiency after installing energy-efficient equipment.
- Adjusted emission coefficients are applied to
CO2 emissions from purchased electricity from FY2020
onward.
CO2 gas added in FY2021, acetylene gas been added in FY2022.
TOPICS
Generating solar power at the Okayama Kurashiki Plant
Okayama Prefecture is known as the “Land of Sunshine” for its low annual rainfall and generally sunny weather. The new plant we opened in Kurashiki, Okayama, in April 2022 is equipped with the Company’s first full-fledged in-house power generation system including approximately 3,500 square meters of solar panels on its expansive roof.
The Kurashiki Plant’s solar power system generated electricity covering 23% of the plant’s total electricity demand in fiscal 2022. The result, which takes into consideration the relocation of factory equipment from the Mizushima Plant in December 2022, was in line with our estimates.
Along with improving the efficiency of our production operations, using in-house generated electricity to meet our energy needs is a key step to reducing our CO2 emissions. We plan to take this a step further by introducing in-house power generation that uses renewable energy sources to further reduce our environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions.
VOICE
This is our first plant to use in-house generated power, and we are aiming to make the system more efficient.
Kazunori Ikeda (General Manager, Sales Department, Tokyo Plant)
I was the Kurashiki Plant manager until March 2023, and I was involved in the plant’s design and construction and the solar panel installation. The electricity generated by the solar panels has been reducing the plant’s electricity costs and CO2 emissions since April 2022.
Prior to installing the panels, we calculated the amount of electricity that could be generated based on historical solar radiation data. Okayama Prefecture has relatively low rainfall and is known as the “Land of Sunshine,” making it one of the best locations in Japan for solar power generation. We installed as many solar panels as we could to generate enough power to meet the plant’s electricity needs. This was our first attempt to install a full-scale power generation system. We had to overcome many challenges, including trying to calculate the actual installation cost and obtaining approval from the Company, but in the end the installation was successful.
In the year since the system started operating in April 2022, the system has generated 313,294 kWh of power, which is equivalent to 23% of the Kurashiki Plant’s electricity consumption. In addition, CO2 emissions were reduced by 22.6% (170 tons of CO2), which was very close to our estimate.
Installing the panels has given us more opportunities to talk with employees about solar power generation, and I think it is raising awareness about energy conservation. We are also looking to enhance the system, such as by adding storage batteries, so that we can also make use of the power that can be generated during off days and in the early morning. I would like the plant to take full advantage of the benefits of having its own power generation system.
Supporting the Kobe Airport Island Blue Carbon Project
